Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte : Shadn repels Devil
Photo scoopdyga.com
A splendid duel between the English raider Shadn (No Nay Never) and the French favourite Devil (Siyouni) in the last furlong of the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte (Gr2), Saturday. At the end of the 6 furlongs straight course, the filly kept a head in front of the Wertheimer brothers homebred.
Trained by Andrew Balding for Al Rabban Racing, Shadn earned his third victory and a first one at this level after finishing third on firmer ground at Newbury in an other Group 2.
Sold only € 16,000 at Goffs Ireland as a weanling, she made £ 42,000 a year later at Tattersalls Ireland's Ascot sale, bought by Rabban Bloodstock and Agent Billy Jackson-Stops.
Her dam Amethyst (Sadlers' Wells) finished second in the Irish Guineas (Gr1) and although she did not particularly shine by her production until now, she is a full sister of the classic performer King of Kings (Sadler's Wells) and General Monash (Thorn Dance), winner of the Prix Robert Papin (Gr2) on the same, Maisons-Laffitte straight course.